Friends of Freighthouse is well on its way to transforming Depot Town's historic structure into a community hub.
The organization recently secured $40,000 in funding from a variety of sources, including the Ypsilanti Downtown Development Authority.
The plan is to turn the Freighthouse into a venue where people can host local events, with long-term plans to have a small cafe.
Friends of the Frighthouse chair Corrine Sikorski says along with basic maintenance, the building needs some major renovations, including ADA-compliant restrooms.
The group has already raised more than $900,000, yet $400,000 is still needed to complete the repairs.
Sikorski said it's unclear when the Freighthouse will officially open, but they are hoping for sometime in 2014.